Method and apparatus for managing multimedia content

ABSTRACT

The invention includes a system, apparatus, and method for storing media content within a service provider network. The system includes multi-service servers associated with access points adapted to allow end-user devices to access the service provider network. Each multi-service server includes a common storage partition adapted for storing media content and a plurality of end-user storage partitions adapted for maintaining associations to media content. The system includes media servers that communicate with the multi-service servers for providing media content to the multi-service servers. In response to a request for media content received from one of a plurality of end-user devices, the requested media content stored in the common storage partition is associated with a selected one of the end-user storage partitions associated with the end-user. The request for media content is received in response to end-user directed advertisements received at any of the plurality of end-user devices.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/577,793, filed Oct. 13, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,073,837 entitledMETHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANAGING MULTIMEDIA CONTENT, which is acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/423,746, filed Jun.13, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,613,735, entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FORMANAGING MULTIMEDIA CONTENT, which applications are each incorporatedherein by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the field of communication networks and, morespecifically, to multimedia services in telecommunications networks.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In existing communication networks, end-users may request network-basedcontent (e.g., text, images, audio, video, and the like) available frommedia content servers. Disadvantageously, however, existing mediacontent servers may be slow and, therefore, unsuitable forhigh-bandwidth multimedia services (e.g., online video rentals).Furthermore, since such high-bandwidth multimedia services use acombination of content streaming and storing, end-user devices withlimited storage and processing capabilities (e.g., cellular phones)cannot support many high-bandwidth multimedia services (e.g., mobilemusic and video downloads). Moreover, existing multimedia storagesolutions do not provide back-up services for storing end-user generatedcontent.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Various deficiencies in the prior art are addressed through theinvention of a system, apparatus, and method for storing media contentwithin a service provider network. The system includes multi-serviceservers associated with access points adapted to allow end-user devicesto access the service provider network. Each multi-service serverincludes a common storage partition adapted for storing media contentand a plurality of end-user storage partitions adapted for maintainingassociations to media content. The system includes media servers thatcommunicate with the multi-service servers for providing media contentto the multi-service servers. In response to a request for media contentreceived from one of a plurality of end-user devices, the requestedmedia content stored in the common storage partition is associated witha selected one of the end-user storage partitions associated with theend-user. The request for media content is received in response toend-user directed advertisements received at any of the plurality ofend-user devices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The teachings of the present invention can be readily understood byconsidering the following detailed description in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 depicts a high-level block diagram of a communication network;

FIG. 2 depicts a method according to one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 depicts a high-level block diagram of a multi-service serveraccording to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 depicts a method according to one embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 5 depicts a high-level block diagram of a general-purpose computersuitable for use in performing at least a portion of the functionsdescribed herein.

To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals have beenused, where possible, to designate identical elements that are common tothe figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides per-end-user content storage using anend-user content storage partition in a service provider network. Theend-user content storage partition is manageable by both serviceprovider and end-user, enabling the service provider and the end-user toadd and remove content, and enabling the end-user to access contentstored in the end-user content storage partition. By implementingper-end-user storage, the present invention thereby enables improvementsto existing multimedia services (e.g., streaming media services, contentbackup and access services, and the like) and support for new multimediaservices (e.g., fixed and mobile multimedia content advertising,previewing, purchasing, renting, and the like, as well as variouscombinations thereof). Using the present invention, end-users may accessmultimedia content from various locations using a variety of end-userdevices.

In one embodiment, by maintaining an end-user content storage partitionon one or more servers close to one or more of the end-user devices bywhich an end-user accesses the service provider network (i.e., near theedge of the service provider network), the present invention therebyenables improved content management capabilities, improved bandwidthutilization, reduced content access latency, and the like, as well asvarious combinations thereof). In one embodiment, content requested byan end-user from the end-user content storage partition using anend-user device may be formatted according to one or more devicecharacteristics of the end-user device from which the end-user initiatesthe content retrieval request.

FIG. 1 depicts a high-level block diagram of a communication network.Specifically, communication network 100 includes a service providernetwork 101, a plurality of access networks (ANs) 110 ₁-110 _(N)(collectively, ANs 110), and a plurality of third-party networks (TPNs)120 ₁-120 _(N) (collectively, TPNs 120). The ANs 110 enablecommunication between SPN 101 and respective pluralities of end-userdevices (EUDs). Specifically, ANs 110 ₁-110 _(N) enable communicationbetween SPN 101 and respective pluralities of EUDs 112 ₁₁-112 _(1N)(collectively, EUDs 112 ₁), EUDs 112 ₂₁-112 _(2N) (collectively, EUDs112 ₂), and EUDs 112 _(N1)-112 _(NN) (collectively, EUDs 112 _(N)),respectively. The EUDs 112 ₁, 112 ₂, and 112 _(N) may be collectivelyreferred to as EUDs 112. The EUDs 112 ₁, 112 ₂, and 112 _(N) communicatewith ANs 110 ₁, 110 ₂, and 110 _(N) using respective pluralities ofcommunication links (CLs) 113 ₁, 113 ₂, and 113 _(N) (collectively, CLs113).

The ANs 110 include any access networks operable for supportingcommunications between EUDs 112 and SPN 101. In one embodiment, ANs 110include access networks adapted for supporting IP-based communications.For example, ANs 110 may include wireline access networks (e.g., cableaccess networks, digital subscriber line (DSL) access networks, Ethernetaccess networks, and the like, as well as various combinations thereof),wireless networks (e.g., code division multiple access (CDMA) accessnetworks, general packet radio service (GPRS) access networks, wirelesslocal area network (WLAN) access networks, and the like, as well asvarious combinations thereof), and the like, as well as variouscombinations thereof.

The EUDs 112 may include any end-user devices operable for establishingcommunication connections/sessions, capturing and transmitting content,receiving and presenting content, and performing like functions, as wellas various combinations thereof. For example, EUDs 112 may communicatewith other EUDs 112 (e.g., voice communications, instant messagecommunications, and the like), access network-based content (e.g.,access various combinations of text, image, audio, video, and likecontent from one or more of SPN 101 (e.g., from one or more of MCSs 108,one or more of MSs 106, and the like), ANs 110, TPNs 120 (e.g., fromMCSs 122), and the like, as well as various combinations thereof). Forexample, EUDs 112 may include computers (e.g., desktop, laptop, and thelike), phones (e.g., IP phones, cellular phones, and the like), personaldata assistants (PDAs), and the like).

In one embodiment, an end-user may access a service provider network(illustratively, SPN 101) using multiple end-user devices(illustratively, EUDs 112). For example, an end-user may access SPN 101from work using a desktop computer over a DSL access network(illustratively, for example, using EUD 112 ₁₁ via AN 110 ₁), from homeusing a laptop computer over a cable access network (illustratively, forexample, using EUD 112 ₂₁ via AN110 ₂), and away from work and homeusing a wireless phone over a wireless access network (illustratively,for example, using EUD 112 _(N1) via AN110 _(N)).

The SPN 101 includes a plurality of core nodes (CNs) 102 (collectively,CNs 102) in communication using a plurality of core links (CLs) 103(collectively, CLs 103). In one embodiment, CNs 102 include networkelements operable for supporting IP-based communications. The CNs 102communicate with TPNs 120 using a plurality of access links (ALs) 121(collectively, ALs 121). The CNs 102 may communicate with variousnetwork elements of TPNs 120 ₁-120 _(N), respectively. Although depictedas communicating with TPNs 120 directly, in one embodiment,communication between CNs 102 and TPNs 120 may traverse various othernetworks, nodes (e.g., core nodes, access nodes, and the like), andlinks, as well as various combinations thereof.

The SPN 101 includes a plurality of access nodes (ANs) 104 ₁-104 _(N)(collectively, ANs 104). In one embodiment, ANs 104 include networkelements operable for supporting IP-based communications. The ANs 104communicate with CNs 102 using a respectively plurality of access links(ALs) 105 ₁-105 _(N) (collectively, ALs 105), respectively. The ANs 104₁-104 _(N) operate as access gateway nodes for ANs 110 ₁-110 _(N),respectively. The ANs 104 ₁-104 _(N) may communicate with variousnetwork elements of ANs 110 ₁-110 _(N), respectively. Although depictedas communicating with ANs 110 directly, in one embodiment, communicationbetween ANs 104 and ANs 110 may traverse various other networks, nodes,and links, as well as various combinations thereof.

The SPN 101 includes a plurality of media content servers (MCSs) 108₁-108 _(N) (collectively, MCSs 108). The MCSs 108 include serversoperable for storing content (e.g., text, image, audio, video, and thelike, as well as various combinations thereof). The MCSs 108 includeservers operable for providing content to EUDs 112 (e.g., in response touser-initiated content retrieval requests (e.g., content requestsreceived from EUDs 112), in response to network-initiated contentretrieval requests (e.g., content requests initiated by MCSs 108 and/orreceived from other network elements), and the like). The MCSs 108 mayprovide content to EUDs 112 using any protocol (e.g., Hypertext TransferProtocol (HTTP) for image content, Real Time Protocol (RTP) for videocontent, and the like). In one embodiment, MCSs 108 are operable forperforming at least a portion of the functions of the present invention.

In one embodiment, MCSs 108 may advertise available content (e.g.,content stored by respective MCSs 108) to EUDs 112. The MCSs 108 mayadvertise available content to EUDs 112 using content advertisementswhich are directed toward EUDs 112 (which may be generally referred toas end-user directed advertisements). An end-user directed advertisementmay be more generally defined to include any advertisement which isdirected from the network (illustratively, any network-based component)to an end-user at one or more associated EUDs 112. An end-user directedadvertisement may be initiated in response to a request by the network(i.e., the network pushes advertisements to end-users) or may beinitiated in response to a request by the end-user.

In one embodiment, one or more end-user directed advertisements may bedelivered from the network to an EUD 112 using one or more availablecontent messages. In one such embodiment, MCSs 108 generate availablecontent messages for transmission to EUDs 112 in order to advertise toEUDs 112 content stored by respective MCSs 108. In one embodiment,available content messages may be generated by MCSs 108 in response torequests from EUDs 112. In one such embodiment, requests from EUDs 112may include generic requests for content (e.g., request for most popularcontent), specific requests for content (e.g., request for all movieshaving car chase scenes), and the like, as well as various combinationsthereof. In one embodiment, available content messages may be generatedby MCSs 108 in response to one or more local conditions (e.g.,conditions local to MCSs 108). In one embodiment, available contentmessages may be generated by MCSs 108 in response to requests from othernetwork-based network elements (e.g., content advertisement managementsystems).

In one embodiment, MCSs 108 may transfer content to MSs 106. In oneembodiment, MCSs 108 transfer content to MSs 106 in response to requestsfrom EUDs 112. In one such embodiment, MCSs 108 transfer content to MSs106 in response to preview requests, rental requests, purchase requests,and the like. In one embodiment, in response to a request to transfercontent to one of the MSs 106, one of the MCSs 108 (i.e., MSC 108 whichreceives the request to transfer the content) may transfers the contentto MS 106. In one embodiment, in response to a request to transfercontent to one of the MSs 106, one of the MCSs 108 (i.e., MSC 108 whichreceives the request to transfer the content) may determine whether thecontent is stored on MS 106. In one such embodiment, if the content isnot stored on MS 106, MSC 108 transfers the content to MS 106 forstorage on MS 106, or, if the content is stored on MS 106, MS 106associates the content with the end-user (e.g., map the content to anend-user content storage partition associated with the end-user).

The SPN 101 communicates with TPNs 120, which may include any networksoperable for storing content (e.g., content owner networks (e.g., LucentTechnologies servers), content provider networks (e.g., Google servers),other service provider networks, and the like, as well as variouscombinations thereof). As depicted in FIG. 1, TPNs 120 ₁-120 _(N)include a plurality of media content servers (MCSs) 122 ₁-122 _(N)(collectively, MCSs 122), respectively, operable for storing content. Inone embodiment, at least a portion of MCSs 122 may be operable forperforming at least a portion of the functions of the present invention(e.g., providing content advertisements (denoted as end-user directedadvertisements) to EUDs 112 using SPN 101, depositing content ontoend-user content partitions maintained within SPN 101, and the like, aswell as various combinations thereof).

The SPN 101 includes a plurality of multi-service servers (MSs) 106₁-106 _(N) (collectively, MSs 106). The MSs 106 may each include one ormore content servers operable for storing, retrieving, and providingcontent (e.g., text, image, audio, video, and the like, as well asvarious combinations thereof) to EUDs 112. The MSs 106 may each includeone or more content storage devices for storing content. In one suchembodiment, content servers of MSs 106 may retrieve requested contentfrom content storage devices of MSs 106. The MSs 106 include serversoperable for providing content to EUDs 112 (e.g., in response touser-initiated content requests (e.g., content requests received fromEUDs 112)). Although depicted as standalone elements, in one embodiment,at least a portion of the functions of MSs 106 may be implemented as aportion of ANs 104, respectively. In one embodiment, MSs 106 areoperable for performing at least a portion of the functions of thepresent invention.

As described herein, the present invention provides network-based,per-end-user content storage functions. In one embodiment, anetwork-based content partition is established and maintained for eachend-user (denoted as an end-user content partition, an end-user storagepartition, or an end-user content storage partition). In one embodiment,an end-user content partition may be established on one MS 106. In oneembodiment, an end-user content partition may be established acrossmultiple MSs 106. In one embodiment, an end-user content partition maybe established as a physical partition (e.g., of one or more MSs 106).In one embodiment, an end-user content partition may be established as alogical partition (e.g., of one or more MSs 106). In one embodiment, anend-user content partition may be established as a combination ofphysical and logical partitions (e.g., of one or more of MSs 106).

In one embodiment, one or more of MSs 106 on which the associatedend-user content partition is established may be selected by the serviceprovider (e.g., randomly selecting one or more of MSs 106, selecting oneMS 106 associated with AN 110 by which the end-user accesses SPN 101,selecting one or more MSs 106 associated one or more ANs 110 by whichthe end-user accesses SPN 101, selecting one of the MSs 106 associatedwith one of the ANs 110 by which the end-user primarily accesses SPN101, and the like). In one embodiment, one or more of MSs 106 on whichthe associated end-user content partition is established may be selectedby the end-user (e.g., while subscribing to the content partitionservice), and may be subsequently modified by the end-user.

In one embodiment, the end-user content partition is established closeto the associated end-user. In one embodiment, in which the end-useraccesses SPN 101 using one EUD 112, the end-user content partition maybe established on the MS 106 associated with the AN 104 in communicationwith AN 110 by which the end-user accesses SPN 101 (e.g., on MS 106 ₁for an end-user accessing SPN 101 using EUD 112 ₁₁). In one embodiment,in which the end-user accesses SPN 101 using multiple EUD 112, theend-user content partition may be established on one or more of the MSs106 associated with respective one or more of the ANs 104 by which theend-user accesses SPN 101 (e.g., on MS 106 ₁ for an end-user accessingSPN 101 from home using EUD 112 ₁₁ and accessing SPN 101 from work usingEUD 112 ₂₂).

In one embodiment, MSs 106 may store at least a portion of the contentin a common content partition. In one such embodiment, contentassociated with multiple end-user content partitions (i.e., requested bymultiple end-users with end-user content partitions on the MS 106) maybe stored in a common content partition (rather than storing multiplecopies of the same content for each of the multiple end-users whichrequested the content). The MS 106 maintains mappings between contentstored in the common content partition and end-user content partitionsof end-users authorized to access the content. For example, if multipleend-users having end-user content partitions on one MS 106(illustratively, MS 106 ₁) order the same movie, rather than storingmultiple copies of the movie on MS 106 ₁, MS 106 ₁ stores one copy ofthe movie and maintains a mapping between the movie and each of theend-user content partitions.

As described herein, MSs 106 provide content to EUDs 112. In oneembodiment, MSs 106 provide content to EUDs 112 in response to requestsfor content received from respective EUDs 112. In one embodiment, MSs106 may adapt requested content before providing the requested contentto the associated EUD 112. In one such embodiment, MSs 106 may determineat least one device characteristic associated with the EUD 112 fromwhich the end-user initiates the request for content (e.g., video playeravailable on the computer, screen size of a cellular phone, and thelike). The MSs 106 may adapt the requested content according to thedevice characteristic(s) before providing the requested content to theassociated EUD 112. The MSs 106 may provide content to EUDs 112 usingany protocol (e.g., Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) for imagecontent, Real Time Protocol (RTP) for video content, and the like).

FIG. 2 depicts a method according to one embodiment of the presentinvention. Specifically, method 200 includes a method for associatingrequested content with an end-user content partition. Although describedherein as being initiated by an end-user device, in one embodiment,method 200 may be initiated by a network device. Although depicted anddescribed as being performed serially, at least a portion of the stepsof method 200 may be performed contemporaneously, or in a differentorder depicted in FIG. 2. The method 200 begins at step 202 and proceedsto step 204.

At step 204, the EUD generates an available content request message. Theavailable content request message is a request message for identifyingcontent available from the network (e.g., from one or more MCSs). Theavailable content request message may be generated in response to arequest initiated by a user using the EUD. For example, an end-user mayinitiate a request for a list of action movies available to be purchasedand/or rented. The available content request message may be generated inresponse to a request initiated by the EUD (e.g., according to a requestpre-configured by the end-user). For example, an end-user maypre-schedule a request for a list of newly released movies which becomeavailable from the SPN on a certain date, thereby enabling the EUD toautomatically initiate a request for the list of newly released movies(and, optionally, previews of the newly released movies).

At step 206, the EUD transmits the available content request messagetoward the MCS (or, in some embodiment, transmits a plurality ofavailable content request messages toward a respective plurality ofMCSs). At step 208, the MCS receives the available content requestmessage. At step 210, available content is identified. In oneembodiment, available content is identified using the available contentrequest message. At step 212, the MCS generates an available contentresponse message or messages. The available content response message,which may also be generally referred to as an end-user directedadvertisement, is a response message for advertising content availablefrom the MCS. The available content response message may be generatedusing the available content request message. The available contentresponse message may identify content (e.g., movies, songs, images, andthe like, as well as various combinations thereof) available forpurchase, rent, and the like.

In one embodiment, the available content response message may includepreviews of the available content. In one embodiment, the availablecontent response message may be accompanied by previews of the availablecontent. In such embodiments, for example, previews of available contentmay include samples of available songs, movie trailers of availablemovies, and the like. In some such embodiments, previews of availablecontent may be downloaded from one or more MCSs to the EUD, streamedfrom one or more MCSs to the EUD, and the like, as well as variouscombinations thereof. In one embodiment, the available content responsemessage may be adapted to enable selection of available content (e.g.,selecting available content for purchase, rent, and the like).

At step 214, the MCS transmits the available content response message(or, optionally, available content response messages, previews ofavailable content, and the like) toward the EUD. At step 216, the EUDreceives the available content response message. At step 218, the EUDpresents the available content to the end-user. The EUD presentsavailable content to the end-user as an advertisement. The EUD presentsthe available content to the end-user by processing the availablecontent response message. In one embodiment, in which previews ofavailable content accompany the available content response message(s),the EUD processes the available content, facilitating selection ofavailable content (e.g., for purchase, rent, and the like) by theend-user.

At step 220, the EUD generates a content request message. The contentrequest message is a request message for associating selected contentwith the end-user content partition of the end-user. In one embodiment,the content request message may be generated in response to a requestinitiated by the end-user from the end-user device. For example, anend-user may initiate a request to rent one of the movies advertised tothe end-user by the MCS (i.e., advertised by the MCS using the availablecontent response message). In one embodiment, the content requestmessage may be generated by the EUD (e.g., according to a requestpre-set by the end-user). For example, an end-user may pre-order a moviescheduled to become available on a certain date, thereby enabling theEUD to automatically initiate a request for the pre-ordered movie. Atstep 222, the EUD transmits the content request message toward the MCS.

At step 224, the MCS receives the content request message. At step 226,the MCS identifies the MS (or, in some embodiments, a plurality of MSs)associated with the end-user (i.e., the MS(s) storing the end-usercontent partition associated with the end-user). In one embodiment, theMCS identifies the MS associated with the end-user using informationreceived as a portion of at least one of the available content requestmessage, the content request message, and the like. In one embodiment,the MCS identifies the MS associated with the end-user using a mappingof the end-user to the associated MS. In such embodiment, the mapping ofthe end-user to the associated MS may be stored locally by the MCS,centrally within the SPN (e.g., on an end-user profile database), andthe like. Although described with respect to specific resources foridentifying the MS associated with the end-user, various other resourcesmay be utilized by the MCS for identifying the MS associated with theend-user.

At step 228, the MCS generates a content storage request message. Thecontent storage request message is a request message for determiningwhether the requested content is stored on the MS associated with theend-user (i.e., on the MS on which the associated end-user contentpartition is maintained (or MSs, if the end-user content partition spansmultiple multi-service servers)). At step 230, the MCS transmits thecontent storage request message toward the MS on which the associatedend-user content partition is maintained. At step 232, the MS receivesthe content storage request message. At step 234, the MS determineswhether the requested content identified in the content storage requestmessage is available (i.e., whether the requested content is alreadystored by the MS). If the requested content is not available, method 200proceeds to step 236. If the requested content is available, method 200proceeds to step 242.

At step 236, the MS generates a content available message. The contentavailable message is a message for informing the MCS that the requestedcontent is already stored on the MS. At step 238, the MS transmits thecontent available message toward the MCS. From step 238, method 200proceeds to steps 240 and 256. Although not depicted, in one embodiment,steps 238 and 256 may be performed contemporaneously. At step 240, theMCS receives the content available message. Since the requested contentis already stored on the MS, the MCS takes no further action in responseto the content available message received from the MS (i.e., the MCSdoes not retrieve the requested content for transmission to the MS).

At step 242, the MS generates a content request message. The contentrequest message is a message for informing the MCS that the requestedcontent is not already stored on the MS. At step 244, the MS transmitsthe content request message toward the MCS. At step 246, the MCSreceives the content request message. At step 248, the MCS retrieves therequested content. In one embodiment, the MCS retrieves the requestedcontent from one or more local storage module associated with the MCS.In one embodiment, the MCS retrieves the requested content from one ormore remote storage modules in communication with the MCS. At step 250,the MCS transmits the requested content toward the MS (or MSs if theend-user content partition spans multiple MSs).

At step 252, the MS receives the content from the MCS. At step 254, theMS stores the content from the MCS in a manner for associating thestored content with the end-user content partition. The MS may store thecontent within the end-user content partition. The MS may store anindication that the end-user associated with the end-user contentpartition is authorized to access the stored content. In one suchembodiment, the stored indication may be stored within the end-usercontent partition. The MS may store the content within a common contentstorage partition (i.e., in such a way that the stored content may beassociated with multiple end-user content partitions and, thus, accessedby multiple end-users). In one such embodiment, the MS generates amapping to the content stored in the common content storage partition(which may also be denoted as a common content partition or a commonstorage partition). The mapping may then be stored in the end-usercontent partition, enabling later retrieval, by the end-user, of thecontent from the common content partition. At step 256, method 200 ends.

FIG. 3 depicts a high-level block diagram of a multi-service serveraccording to one embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, MS106 of FIG. 3 includes an input-output module (IOM) 310, a processor320, a memory 330, and support circuits (SCs) 340. The processor 320interfaces with IOM 310, memory 330, and SCs 340 for performing variousfunctions depicted and described herein with respect to MSs 106. Thememory 330 includes a common storage partition 332 and a plurality ofend-user storage partitions 334 ₁-334 _(N) (collectively, end-userstorage partitions 334). The common storage partition may alternativelybe referred to herein as a common content partition or a common contentstorage partition. The end-user storage partitions may alternatively bereferred to herein as end-user content partitions or end-user contentstorage partition.

As described herein, common storage partition 332 and end-user storagepartitions 334 may be implemented as physical partitions, logicalpartitions, as well as various combinations thereof. Although one commonstorage partition is depicted for purposes of clarity, in oneembodiment, MS 106 may include multiple physical and/or logical commonstorage partitions. Although, for purposes of clarity, oneend-user-storage partition is depicted for each end-user, MS 106 mayinclude multiple physical and/or logical end-user storage partitions foreach end-user.

FIG. 4 depicts a method according to one embodiment of the presentinvention. Specifically, method 400 includes a method for retrievingcontent from an end-user content partition of a multi-service server.Although not specifically described, one or both of non-end-usergenerated content (i.e., content generated by a content owner or contentprovider and transferred from a media content server to a multi-serviceserver) and end-user generated content (i.e., content generated by anend-user and transferred from an end-user device to a multi-serviceserver). Although depicted and described as being performed serially, atleast a portion of the steps of method 400 may be performedcontemporaneously, or in a different order depicted in FIG. 4. Themethod 400 begins at step 402 and proceeds to step 404.

At step 404, a content retrieval request is received. The contentretrieval request is received at an MS on which the associated end-usercontent partition is stored. The content retrieval request may bereceived directly from an EUD, or may be received indirectly (e.g.,redirected from another MS if the end-user content partition spansmultiple MSs, redirected from an authentication server, redirected froma proxy server, or redirected from another network element whichinitially receives the content retrieval request from the EUD, and thelike, as well as various combinations thereof).

At step 406, the end-user content partition is identified. The end-usercontent partition may be identified using information received in thecontent retrieval request (e.g., end-user identifier, end-user contentpartition identifier, EUD identifier, and the like, as well as variouscombinations thereof).

At step 408, content (i.e., content requested to be retrieved by theend-user) is identified. The content requested to be retrieved by theend-user is identified using the content retrieval request. The contentrequested to be retrieved by the end-user may include one or both ofnon-end-user generated content (i.e., content generated by a contentowner or content provider and transferred from a media content server orother network-based device to a multi-service server) and end-usergenerated content (i.e., content generated by an end-user andtransferred from an end-user device to a multi-service server).

At step 410, a determination is made as to whether the end-user isauthorized to retrieve the content identified in the content retrievalrequest. In one embodiment, the determination is made as to whether theend-user is authorized to retrieve the content identified in the contentretrieval request may be made by searching the end-user contentpartition for the content identified in the content retrieval request.The determination is made as to whether the end-user is authorized toretrieve the content identified in the content retrieval request may bemade using various other authorization techniques. If the end-user isnot authorized to retrieve the content, method 400 proceeds to step 412.At step 412, the EUD provides an error message to the EUD from which thecontent retrieval request is received. From step 412, method 400proceeds to step 426, where method 400 ends. If the end-user isauthorized to retrieve the content, method 400 proceeds to step 414.

At step 414, the EUD (i.e., from which the content retrieval request wasreceived) is identified. The end-user content partition may beidentified using information received in the content retrieval request(e.g., end-user identifier, end-user content partition identifier, andthe like, or various combinations thereof). At step 416, an end-userdevice characteristic(s) associated with the identified EUD isidentified. The EUD characteristic(s) may include at least onecharacteristic which may impact delivery and/or presentation of therequested content (e.g., EUD receiver capabilities, EUD contentprocessing capabilities, EUD content storage capacity, EUD contentpresentation interface characteristics (e.g., screen size, resolution,and the like), and the like, as well as various combinations thereof.The EUD characteristic(s) may be identified using information receivedin the content retrieval request, additional signaling between the MSand the EUD, and the like.

At step 418, the content requested by the end-user in the contentretrieval request is retrieved. As described herein, the content may beretrieved from the end-user content partition of the MS, from a commonstorage partition of the MS (e.g., using a mapping from the end-usercontent partition to the common storage partition (e.g., contentindexing and like mapping functions), and the like, as well as variouscombinations thereof). In one embodiment, in which the end-user isauthorized to access the requested content but the content requested bythe end-user is not available on the MS, the MS may retrieve therequested content from another network device (e.g., another MS if theend-user content partition spans multiple MSs, an MCS, and the like, aswell as various combinations thereof).

At step 420, a determination is made as to whether to modify contentretrieved in response to the content retrieval request. Thedetermination as to whether to modify retrieved content may be performedusing one or more of the EUD characteristics associated with the EUDfrom which the content retrieval request is received. For example, inresponse to a determination that the EUD is a mobile phone (e.g., adevice having a small screen size relative to other EUDs such ascomputer monitors and televisions), a determination the retrievedcontent may be modified to fit the smaller screen size of the mobilephone. If the content retrieved in response to the content retrievalrequest is not modified, method 400 proceeds to step 424. If the contentretrieved in response to the content retrieval request is modified,method 400 proceeds to step 422.

At step 422, the content retrieved in response to the content retrievalrequest is modified using the EUD characteristic(s). In one embodiment,for example, in response to a determination that the EUD is a mobilephone with a small screen size relative to other EUDs such as computermonitors and televisions, the retrieved content may be modified in amanner such that the content better fits the smaller screen size of themobile phone. Although only described with respect to one form ofmodification, various other modifications may be made to the retrievedcontent (e.g., using different encoding formats, transport protocols,and the like, as well as various combinations thereof). At step 424, theretrieved content is provided to the EUD from which the contentretrieval request is received. The retrieved content may be providedusing any means of conveying content from a network device to the EUD(e.g., using any encoding, protocol, and the like). From step 424,method 400 proceeds to step 426, where method 400 ends.

Although primarily depicted and described herein with respect tospecific messages, communication between components (e.g., betweennetwork components, between network components and EUDs, and the like)may be performed using various other communication functions. In oneembodiment, for example, communication described herein as beingperformed using a single message may be performed using a plurality ofmessages, packets, and the like, as well as various other equivalentsignaling means for achieving the described result. As such, the presentinvention is not intended to be limited by specific communicationmessages depicted and described herein, rather, various equivalentcommunication means may be employed for supporting communicationsdepicted and described herein.

As described herein, the present invention enables improvements toexisting multimedia services, support for new multimedia services, andthe like, as well as various combinations thereof. The improvements toexisting multimedia services, support for new multimedia services, andthe like may be better understood with respect to the followingexamples. Although depicted and described herein with respect tospecific networks, network elements, end-user devices, protocols,signaling, messaging, content, and services, the present invention isnot limited to the networks, network elements, end-user devices,protocols, signaling, messaging, content, and services described in thefollowing examples.

In one embodiment, as described herein, the present invention enablesimproved media streaming capabilities. In existing media streamingsolutions, multimedia content is streamed from server to client acrossthe Internet. In such existing media streaming solutions, streamingmedia may traverse multiple networks and network domains (e.g., multipleservice provider networks) between the server and client, therebypreventing guaranteed quality of service, increasing latency, increasingbottleneck probabilities, and the like. The present invention avoidssuch problems associated with existing media streaming solutions byproviding multimedia content directly from MSs (which may be locatedclose to EUDs, i.e., near EUD network access points) to EUDs such thatmultimedia content traverses only a small portion of the network underthe control of one service provider, thereby enabling high-qualityservices (such as high quality streaming media) to be more efficientlyprovided to end-users.

In one embodiment, as described herein, the present invention enablesimproved end-user content backup and access capabilities. Theper-end-user storage space (e.g., end-user storage partition) enablesend-users to store one or both of non-end-user generated content andend-user generated content. The non-end-user generated content mayinclude text, images, audio clips, videos (e.g., clips, televisionprograms, movies, and the like), and the like, as well as variouscombinations thereof. The non-end-user generated content may include anycontent available from the Internet (e.g., content available fromwebsites, streaming content available from content providers (e.g.,television stations, movie studios, and the like, as well as variouscombinations thereof). The end-user generated content may includepersonal content created by the user and uploaded to the network forstorage on the end-user storage partition (e.g., personal documents,pictures, videos, and the like, as well as various combinationsthereof).

Using the present invention, encryption may be utilized to protect bothnon-end-user generated content (e.g., copyrighted content) and end-usergenerated content (e.g., for end-user privacy reasons). Since, using thepresent invention, the end-user content partition and, therefore,content available to the end-user, is located close to at least one ofthe EUDs used by the end-user to access the service provider network,the bandwidth between storage and end-user may be significantlyincreased while the delay between storage and end-user may besignificantly decreased (neither result being achievable using existingmedia storage solutions). As described herein, using the presentinvention, end-users may access storage content from one or more MSsusing different EUDs associated with the end-user, and the MSs areadapted for delivering requested content to the EUDs in respectiveformats suitable for the respective EUDs.

In one embodiment, as described herein, the present invention enablesnew content advertising, preview, and sales services. Using the presentinvention, service providers may provide available content to EUDs(e.g., providing previews of available content to mobile phones,computers, and the like). In one embodiment, available content may beprovided by the service provider on behalf of content owners such asrecord companies, television stations, movie companies, and the like, aswell as various combinations thereof. The available content may berequested by the end-user using an EUD or pushed to the EUD (e.g., by aservice provider, content owner, content provider, and the like).

In one embodiment, full media clips may be pushed to EUDs (e.g., anentire sample song may be pushed to an EUD to advertise the song or therecord album on which the song is released). In one embodiment, partialmedia clips may be pushed to an EUD (e.g., a chorus of a song may bepushed to an EUD to advertise the full song, a movie trailer may bepushed to an EUD to advertise the full movie, and the like). Therequested or pushed content (e.g., full or partial media clips) may beaccompanied by or followed by an option to rent or purchase the content,or additional content associated with the pushed content, (e.g.,purchasing a record album on which the advertised song is included).

In one embodiment, options to rent or purchase content advertised toEUDs may be activated using a hardware interface on the EUD, a softwareinterface on the EUD, or a combination of hardware and softwareinterfaces. For example, the end-user may rent or purchase advertised(or, alternatively, unadvertised) content by clicking a button, typingone or more keys, issuing a voice command, and the like, as well asvarious combinations thereof. Upon renting or purchasing the advertisedcontent, the rented or purchased content may be deposited into anend-user storage area (e.g., depositing the content from a MCS onto oneor more MSs on which the associated end-user content partition ismaintained).

In one embodiment, as described herein, the present invention enablesnew content gifting services (enabling end-users to purchase mediacontent and send the purchased media content to one or more end-users asa gift. For example, a first end-user purchases content with anindication that the content is intended as a gift for a second end-user.The request to provide the purchased content as a gift to the secondend-user may be provided to the MCS on which the content is purchased(e.g., which communicates with the MS(s) on which the end-user contentpartition of the second end-user is maintained), the MS(s) on which theend-user content partition of either the first or second end-user ismaintained, one or more other servers adapted for processing the contentgifting request and coordinating appropriate actions by the MCS andMS(s) on which the end-user content partition of the second end-user ismaintained.

In this embodiment, the gifted content is deposited from the MCS to theone or more MS(s) on which the end-user content partition of the secondend-user is maintained. As described herein, gifted content, likepurchased content, end-user generated content, and the like, may includeany content. As described herein, the gifted content may be stored inone of an end-user content partition associated with the secondend-user, a common content partition mapped in end-user contentpartition associated with the second end-user, and the like, as well asvarious combinations thereof. Using the present invention, the secondend-user may then immediately access the gifted content from anylocation using any EUD (e.g., without even having to login to a websiteto download the gifted media content).

The present invention provides significant benefits to serviceproviders. The service provider, by implementing, maintaining, andmanaging multi-service per-end-user storage (e.g., in the form ofend-user content partitions), may improve end-user loyalty (e.g., due tonew and improved services, and, optionally, due to an increasingdifficulty of changing service providers as a result of significantquantities of content stored by the current service provider). Theservice provider, by implementing, maintaining, and managingmulti-service per-end-user storage, may offer a host of revenuegenerating services to end-user, such as content advertising, rental,sales, data backup services, and the like, as well as variouscombinations thereof.

The present invention provides significant benefits to content owners.The present invention provides content owners more options foradvertising content, while simultaneously providing end-users with moreoptions for previewing, renting, and purchasing advertised content,enabling increases in content rental and sales over existing solutions.The present invention enables improved anti-piracy measures for contentowners (e.g., end-users access the content from secure MSs which providemore security features than existing MCSs from which end-user currentlyobtain content). For example, anti-piracy measures supported by thepresent invention may prevent illegal distribution of new record albums,movies, and like content.

The present invention provides significant benefits to end-users. Thepresent invention provides end-users with increased flexibility inpurchasing and renting media content (e.g., enabling end-users topreview and content on any device, even on public computers, purchase orrent the previewed content, and have the purchased or rented contentstored in a personal content storage space dedicated to the end-user).The end-user may then access the content from any device. For example,if the end-user accesses the content from home, where the end-usersubscribes to a high-speed Internet connection (e.g., cable, DSL,optical fiber to the home, and the like), since the end-user contentpartition is implemented close to the end-user, the connection speed maybe fast enough to support real-time streaming of high-definition content(e.g., movies, television programs, and the like).

The present invention provides additional benefits to end-users in theform of personal content storage, management, and retrieval capabilities(e.g., enabling end-users to store and retrieve personal documents,photographs, videos, and the like, as well as various combinationsthereof). For example, an end-user on vacation may not want to bring alarge number of recordable disks for the video camera, limiting theamount of video footage that the end-user may shoot. Using the presentinvention, the end-user may upload video content from the video camerato the end-user content storage partition using a network connection inthe hotel, thereby enabling the end-user to record and storage as muchvideo footage as the end-user desires. Similar examples may becontemplated for other content generated by end-users.

As described herein, although depicted and described with respect to useof specific physical and or logical server and storage devicepartitions, the end-user content partitions of the present invention maybe implemented using various other server and storage devicepartitioning techniques. Although primarily depicted and describedherein using embodiments in which end-user content storage isimplemented using respective end-user content partitions associated withrespective end-users, in other embodiments, end-user content storage maybe implemented using various other content storage techniques adaptedfor associating content with end-users and for supporting contentstorage, management, and retrieval functions depicted and describedherein with respect to the present invention.

FIG. 5 depicts a high-level block diagram of a general-purpose computersuitable for use in performing the functions described herein. Asdepicted in FIG. 5, system 500 comprises a processor element 502 (e.g.,a CPU), a memory 504, e.g., random access memory (RAM) and/or read onlymemory (ROM), a multi-service content management module 505, and variousinput/output devices 506 (e.g., storage devices, including but notlimited to, a tape drive, a floppy drive, a hard disk drive or a compactdisk drive, a receiver, a transmitter, a speaker, a display, an outputport, and a user input device (such as a keyboard, a keypad, a mouse,and the like)).

It should be noted that the present invention may be implemented insoftware and/or in a combination of software and hardware, e.g., usingapplication specific integrated circuits (ASIC), a general purposecomputer or any other hardware equivalents. In one embodiment, thepresent multi-service content management module or process 505 can beloaded into memory 504 and executed by processor 502 to implement thefunctions as discussed above. As such, multi-service content managementprocess 505 (including associated data structures) of the presentinvention can be stored on a computer readable medium or carrier, e.g.,RAM memory, magnetic or optical drive or diskette and the like.

Although various embodiments which incorporate the teachings of thepresent invention have been shown and described in detail herein, thoseskilled in the art can readily devise many other varied embodiments thatstill incorporate these teachings.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for supporting advertising and sale ofmedia content, comprising: receiving, at a server, a request for theserver to store media content for a first end-user; wherein the servercomprises a common storage partition configured for storing mediacontent and a plurality of end-user storage partitions configured formaintaining associations to portions of the media content stored in thecommon storage partition; wherein the media content identified in therequest is associated with an advertisement propagated toward the firstend-user or a second end-user; and storing an association to therequested media content in one of the end-user storage partitionsassociated with the first end-user.
 2. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: in response to receiving the request to store media content,determining whether the requested media content is stored in the commonstorage partition; in response to a determination that the requestedmedia content is stored in the common storage partition, initiatingstorage of the association to the requested media content in the one ofthe end-user storage partitions associated with the first end-user; inresponse to a determination that the requested media content is notstored in the common storage partition: transmitting, toward a source ofthe media content, a request to retrieve the requested media content;receiving the requested media content from the source of the mediacontent; storing the requested media content in the common storagepartition; and in response to storage of the requested media content inthe common storage partition, initiating storage of the association tothe requested media content in the one of the end-user storagepartitions associated with the first end-user.
 3. The method of claim 2,further comprising: receiving a request, by the first end-user, toretrieve the requested media content, wherein the request is associatedwith an end-user terminal of the first end-user; retrieving therequested media content from the common storage partition; andpropagating the requested media content toward the end-user terminal ofthe first end-user.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the media contentis advertised to the first end-user via the end-user terminal of thefirst end-user.
 5. The method of claim 3, wherein the end-user terminalis a first end-user terminal of the first end-user, wherein the mediacontent is advertised to the first end-user via a second end-userterminal of the first end-user.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein themedia content is advertised to the second end-user.
 7. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the request to store media content is received inresponse to a content purchase request of the second end-user, whereinthe content purchase request is configured to indicate that the mediacontent is purchased by the second end-user for the first end-user. 8.An apparatus for supporting advertising and sale of media content to anend-user, comprising: a processor and a memory communicatively connectedto the processor, the processor configured to: receive, at a server, arequest for the server to store media content for a first end-user;wherein the server comprises a common storage partition configured forstoring media content and a plurality of end-user storage partitionsconfigured for maintaining associations to portions of the media contentstored in the common storage partition; wherein the media contentidentified in the request is associated with an advertisement propagatedtoward the first end-user or a second end-user; and store an associationto the requested media content in one of the end-user storage partitionsassociated with the first end-user.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8, whereinthe processor is further configured to: in response to receiving therequest to store media content, determine whether the requested mediacontent is stored in the common storage partition; in response to adetermination that the requested media content is stored in the commonstorage partition, initiate storage of the association to the requestedmedia content in the one of the end-user storage partitions associatedwith the first end-user; in response to a determination that therequested media content is not stored in the common storage partition:transmit, toward a source of the media content, a request to retrievethe requested media content; receive the requested media content fromthe source of the media content; store the requested media content inthe common storage partition; and in response to storage of therequested media content in the common storage partition, initiatestorage of the association to the requested media content in the one ofthe end-user storage partitions associated with the first end-user. 10.The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configuredto: receive a request, by the first end-user, to retrieve the requestedmedia content, wherein the request is associated with an end-userterminal of the first end-user; retrieve the requested media contentfrom the common storage partition; and propagate the requested mediacontent toward the end-user terminal of the first end-user.
 11. Theapparatus of claim 10, wherein the media content is advertised to thefirst end-user via the end-user terminal of the first end-user.
 12. Theapparatus of claim 10, wherein the end-user terminal is a first end-userterminal of the first end-user, wherein the media content is advertisedto the first end-user via a second end-user terminal of the firstend-user.
 13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the media content isadvertised to the second end-user.
 14. The apparatus of claim 8, whereinthe request to store media content is received in response to a contentpurchase request of the second end-user, wherein the content purchaserequest is configured to indicate that the media content is purchased bythe second end-user for the first end-user.
 15. A non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium storing instructions which, whenexecuted by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method forsupporting advertising and sale of media content to an end-user, themethod comprising: receiving, at a server, a request for the server tostore media content for a first end-user; wherein the server comprises acommon storage partition configured for storing media content and aplurality of end-user storage partitions configured for maintainingassociations to portions of the media content stored in the commonstorage partition; wherein the media content identified in the requestis associated with an advertisement propagated toward the first end-useror a second end-user; and storing an association to the requested mediacontent in one of the end-user storage partitions associated with thefirst end-user.
 16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage mediumof claim 15, further comprising: in response to receiving the request tostore media content, determining whether the requested media content isstored in the common storage partition; in response to a determinationthat the requested media content is stored in the common storagepartition, initiating storage of the association to the requested mediacontent in the one of the end-user storage partitions associated withthe first end-user; in response to a determination that the requestedmedia content is not stored in the common storage partition:transmitting, toward a source of the media content, a request toretrieve the requested media content; receiving the requested mediacontent from the source of the media content; storing the requestedmedia content in the common storage partition; and in response tostorage of the requested media content in the common storage partition,initiating storage of the association to the requested media content inthe one of the end-user storage partitions associated with the firstend-user.
 17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium ofclaim 16, further comprising: receiving a request, by the firstend-user, to retrieve the requested media content, wherein the requestis associated with an end-user terminal of the first end-user;retrieving the requested media content from the common storagepartition; and propagating the requested media content toward theend-user terminal of the first end-user.
 18. The non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the media contentis advertised to the first end-user via the end-user terminal of thefirst end-user.
 19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage mediumof claim 17, wherein the end-user terminal is a first end-user terminalof the first end-user, wherein the media content is advertised to thefirst end-user via a second end-user terminal of the first end-user. 20.The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, whereinthe media content is advertised to the second end-user.
 21. Thenon-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein therequest to store media content is received in response to a contentpurchase request of the second end-user, wherein the content purchaserequest is configured to indicate that the media content is purchased bythe second end-user for the first end-user.
 22. A method for supportingadvertising and sale of media content, comprising: receiving, at anetwork element comprising a processor and a memory communicativelyconnected to the processor, a request for media content for a firstend-user, wherein the requested media content is associated with anadvertisement propagated toward the first end-user or a second end-user,wherein the advertisement comprises an indication of available mediacontent; identifying a server associated with the first end-user,wherein the identified server comprises a common storage partitionconfigured for storing media content and a plurality of end-user storagepartitions configured for maintaining associations to portions of themedia content stored in the common storage partition, wherein one of theend-user storage partitions of the identified server is associated withthe first end-user; and initiating, toward the server, a request for therequested media content to be stored on the server.